“Remain united with your pastor”: Apostolic Nuncio at Celebration of 75th Anniversary of Cameroon’s Buea Diocese

The Vatican diplomat, a native of Portugal, reiterated, “Be united; be the faithful, loving presence of God in your communities. Know that with God, you can make a valid, enduring, and holy difference for our beloved people.” 

Turning to Priests, and women and men Religious serving in Buea Diocese, Archbishop Bettencourt said, “Today, in these difficult times, your ministry is ever relevant to the faithful and the community as a whole.”

“Preach the word of God, the word of peace and unity throughout your land. Be messengers of peace and unity. Your unity with your Bishop guarantees the universal church's support for you,” the Apostolic Nuncio in Cameroon, who also represents the Holy Father in Equatorial Guinea said.

The Diocese of Buea was established as the Apostolic Prefecture of Buea and the Apostolic Vicariate of Buea in June 1923. It was elevated to a Diocese in April 1950.

The Catholic Episcopal See measures 2,093 square kilometers and has an estimated Catholic population of 235,750, according to 2022 statistics.

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The Cameroonian Diocese, which is part of the Ecclesiastical province of Bamenda covers the whole of Fako Division in Cameroon’s Southwestern region and counts some 37 Parishes with over 76 Priests.

Referring to members of the Society of the Mill Hill Missionaries (MHM) in his May 7 homily, Archbishop Bettencourt recognized with appreciation the sacrifices of those who pioneered the evangelization of the people of God in Buea Diocese.

“Over the decades, the Lord has sent his messengers to this land. We recall the first great followers of Christ in our land, the Bishops, the great missionaries, the great Catechists, the great mothers and fathers, the great tribes of this land who steadfastly held to their Christian faith and spread the good news of God even against all kinds of difficulties,” he said. 

The Apostolic Nuncio in Cameroon since his appointment in August 2023 continued, “Even when the authorities of the day prevented the church's Priests from serving the people of God, your people, your Catechists, your families rose to the noble mission of maintaining alive the faith in Christ and in His church. How wise, how great they were.”

“We recall with gratitude our very own early Christians in Buea, their prayers, their selfless toil, their sacrifice, and their offering of lives. This permitted us to develop, to have, and maintain the first schools and hospitals that in turn permitted us, permitted you, to develop into the true Christians that you are today,” Archbishop Bettencourt said.

With the 75-year milestone, the Vatican diplomat said, “much is expected of Buea Diocese. You are the eldest daughter. Take your rightful place.”

He encouraged the people of God to “gather together to meditate with open hearts the word of God and be inspired by the early Christians of Buea.”

“Be authentic witnesses of Christ as our Bishops tirelessly encourage us, and as they highlighted in their pastoral plan of the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province,” Archbishop Bettencourt said.

“Since 1950, your Diocese has been Consecrated to the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace,” he recalled, and implored, “May Mary, the Queen of Peace, intercede, guide, and protect this beloved Diocese of Buea, and may the good Lord bless you always. Amen.”

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.